Editing Courtyard (section)

== Historic use==
[[File:Lidzbark Warmiński zamek dziedziniec(WLZ12).jpg|thumb|left|Courtyard in the [[Lidzbark Castle]], Poland]]
Courtyards&mdash;private open spaces surrounded by walls or buildings&mdash;have been in use in residential [[architecture]] for almost as long as people have lived in constructed dwellings. The [[courtyard house]] makes its first appearance {{circa|6400}}–6000 BC (calibrated), in the  [[Neolithic]]  [[Yarmukian Culture|Yarmukian site]] at Sha'ar HaGolan, in the central [[Jordan Valley (Middle East)|Jordan Valley]], on the northern bank of the Yarmouk River, giving the site a special significance in architectural history.<ref>Garfinkel Y. 1993. "The Yarmukian Culture in Israel". ''Paléorient'', '''19'''.1:115 – 134.</ref> Courtyards have historically been used for many purposes including cooking, sleeping, working, playing, gardening, and even places to keep animals.

Before courtyards, open [[fire]]s were kept burning in a central place within a home, with only a small hole in the [[ceiling]] overhead to allow [[smoke]] to escape. Over time, these small openings were enlarged and eventually led to the development of the centralized open courtyard we know today. Courtyard homes have been designed and built throughout the world with many variations.

Courtyard homes are more prevalent in temperate climates, as an open central court can be an important aid to cooling house in warm weather.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/12990/|title=The role of multiple courtyards in the promotion of convective cooling|last=Ernest|first=Raha|date=2011-12-16|website=eprints.nottingham.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=2020-01-12}}</ref> However, courtyard houses have been found in harsher climates as well for centuries. The comforts offered by a courtyard&mdash;air, light,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reynolds |first=John S. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46422024 |title=Courtyards: Aesthetic, Social, and Thermal Delight |publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |year=2002 |isbn=0-471-39884-5 |location=New York |pages=26 |oclc=46422024}}</ref> [[privacy]], security, and tranquility&mdash;are properties nearly universally desired in human housing. Almost all courtyards use natural elements.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reynolds |first=John S. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46422024 |title=Courtyards: Aesthetic, Social, and Thermal Delight |publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |year=2002 |isbn=0-471-39884-5 |location=New York |pages=27 |oclc=46422024}}</ref>